hr20 or hr21?

[o2bfishn]

hi everyone, first post. wish i had found this site sooner :)

ive been a long time directv subscriber but we just got a hi-def lcd and i ordered my hd dvr receiver from directv. problem is i wanted to get it quicker so i told dtv to cancel the order and i went to buy one on bestbuy.com. to make a long story short, dtv did not cancel my order like they said and i got an hr20 from them, but the one i ordered from best buy (hasnt come yet) is an hr21-600

which one should i use and which one should i return? they should both be hd dvr right? do they both have hdmi?

[Earl Bonovich]

Both have HDMI.

The question is:

Do you need ATSC (Over the air reception) to get your local HD channels?

If YES (or if you just want ATSC integrated), then stick with the HR20.
If NO, then it really doesn't matter

If you go with the HR21... and then change your mind about the ATSC... there is an add-on being released the AM21 in the comming months, that will give you OTA support on your HR21

[o2bfishn]

thanks for the reply. i assume i will get my local hd channels through the satellite but i dont know for sure. i will find out when the installer comes friday or maybe i will call dtv back to make sure.

is there a post here that explains the difference in the receivers? i know some of the numbers show who made the device, but what about internals and the like? are the hr21s newer? have more features?

[Stuart Sweet]

HR20s and HR21s share the same features. There is little or no difference in performance, and when the AM21 antenna module comes out, they will be completely identical in features.

[frederic1943]

Is there a post here that explains the difference in the receivers? i know some of the numbers show who made the device, but what about internals and the like? are the hr21s newer? have more features?
There are some threads you can try and use search for them. The HR21 is the newer unit but it doesn't have any different hardware features than the HR20 except for not having OTA tuners built-in.

As far as Software Updates go the HR20s get them first and the HR21s last.

As to getting your locals in HD by satellite I just checked and you should get ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in HD by satellite. You don't get the CW and PBS or any of the sub-channels. You'll need an OTA antenna to get them.

[phat78boy]

One other thing of note is the built in ethernet switch on the HR21. Comes in very useful if you have multiple items that need an internet connection, like say an Xbox 360 or something of that sort.

[PoitNarf]

One other thing of note is the built in ethernet switch on the HR21. Comes in very useful if you have multiple items that need an internet connection, like say an Xbox 360 or something of that sort.

Or a Slingbox.

[o2bfishn]

wow, thanks for all the great replies everyone. im going to have the installer use the hr20. he will be here today!

[inazsully]

I've been seeing reference to the AM21 for quite some time but never anything about when. A couple of months is pretty vague. Also, is the AM21 a separate piece of hardware?

[Michael D'Angelo]

I've been seeing reference to the AM21 for quite some time but never anything about when. A couple of months is pretty vague. Also, is the AM21 a separate piece of hardware?

Yes the AM21 is a separate piece of hardware.

There is no set date for its release yet.

[mcbeevee]

I've been seeing reference to the AM21 for quite some time but never anything about when. A couple of months is pretty vague. Also, is the AM21 a separate piece of hardware?
The AM21 is rumored to be available by the end of March-2008. It is a separate piece of hardware:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=115134&highlight=am21+ces

:)

[inazsully]

What kind of cost for existing HR21 owners and will it be a free accessory offered to new orders?